Orientation Center Program Administrator

Full Job Description

This is a non-merit position. Candidates must follow the instructions in the "To Apply" section.

The Iowa Department for the Blind is seeking an energetic, flexible, and mission-driven professional to manage our Orientation Center for the Blind.

This individual both directs the Center and also serves as a key member of the agency’s leadership team.

They play an integral role in ensuring IDB meets federal and state requirements in providing vocational rehabilitation programs and services.

An ideal candidate will:

• Demonstrate a strong background in vocational rehabilitation, blindness education, rehabilitation teaching, or a closely related field, with a clear understanding of adult adjustment to blindness training.
• Have experience administering, supervising, or teaching within an adjustment to blindness center or similar training environment.
• Possess working knowledge of federal and state vocational rehabilitation regulations (including the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act) and the ability to support agency-wide compliance, reporting, and performance outcomes.
• Exhibit strong leadership skills, including the ability to develop staff, foster accountability, and build a high-performing, collaborative team.
• Have excellent written and oral communication skills, with the ability to effectively engage diverse stakeholders, including staff, students, partners, and policymakers.
• Demonstrate strong project management skills, including planning, implementation, evaluation, and continuous improvement of programs and initiatives.
• Show the ability to think critically and solve complex problems in creative, cost-effective, and mission-aligned ways.
• Be committed to continuous improvement and innovation, using data and feedback to strengthen programs and outcomes.
• Cultivate a culture of teamwork, professionalism, continuous learning, and high-quality service delivery.
• Demonstrate a positive understanding of blindness and disability and also the ability to effectively teach, model, and inspire that understanding in both staff and students.
• Exhibit a deep commitment to empowering blind Iowans to achieve competitive integrated employment, live independently, and pursue the lives they choose.

Primary job duties include, but are not limited to:

• Administer, coordinate, and facilitate all activities of the adult adjustment-to-blindness Orientation Center. Ensure the Center maintains a positive training environment with high expectations. Provide leadership presence and availability as needed to support staff and students.
• Develop new classes, activities, and opportunities for training center students, including internships, volunteering, and other work-based learning opportunities.

Ensure the Orientation Center is fully integrated into each student’s vocational rehabilitation plan, with a clear focus on employment and postsecondary readiness.

Promote the development of training that not only builds blindness skills, but also prepares students for competitive integrated employment and/or success in college or other postsecondary pathways.

Serve as an active member of the agency’s leadership team. Participate in management and supervisory meetings to plan and implement policies and actions that impact overall agency performance.

Maintain a strong working knowledge of all Department programs and services.

Represent the perspective of the Orientation Center in leadership discussions and help coordinate Center programming with other agency divisions.

Carry out projects and assignments as directed by the Director.

• Assist other members of the agency’s leadership team in federally and state mandated reporting activities, such as the Comprehensive Statewide Needs Assessment and the VR Portion of the State Plan.

Provide direct counseling to students on blindness-related issues, including the development and use of alternative techniques.

Coordinate counseling efforts across staff and refer students to outside resources when appropriate. Lead group discussions on adjustment to blindness and related topics.

Develop and teach classes, including seminars as needed, and ensure curriculum remains current, rigorous, and aligned with best practices.

In collaboration with Center staff, develop, implement, and continuously improve individualized training programs for students.

Monitor student progress through observation, documentation, and regular consultation with staff.

Address concerns related to student progress, attitude, or performance, and keep the Director informed of significant issues.

Provide supervision and leadership to Orientation Center staff, including coaching, performance management, and professional development.

Foster a culture of accountability, teamwork, continuous improvement, and high-quality service delivery. Support staff in meeting program goals and delivering effective, student-centered training.

Enable staff to remain up-to-date on current best practices and technology.




Benefits:

At the State of Iowa, we are committed to your well-being. As a valued team member, you'll enjoy a comprehensive benefits package that includes:

• Paid Time Off: Enjoy vacation with accruals that rollover on a yearly basis, sick leave with no limits on accrual and 9 paid holidays per year.
• Great Benefits: Excellent Health, Dental, and Vision Insurance Options.
• Retirement Plan: IPERS Retirement package and an option for a deferred compensation plan.
• Flexibility: Flexible Spending Accounts (medical and dependent care).
• Life Insurance: Free Life Insurance.
• Support: Employee Assistance Programs and Employee Discount Programs.

To learn more about the benefits of working with the State of Iowa, visit our benefits webpage.


IDB requires a background check before any offer of employment.



E-Verify and Right to Work
The State of Iowa participates in E-Verify, a federal program that helps employers confirm the employment eligibility of all newly hired employees. Within the required timeframe, new hires will be verified through the E-Verify system to ensure authorization to work in the United States. The State of Iowa also complies with the federal Right to Work laws, which protect employees’ rights to work without being required to join a labor organization. For more information, please visit www.e-verify.gov.



Qualifications

Graduation from an accredited four year college or university and the equivalent of four years of full-time professional level experience such as program administration, development, management or operations;
OR
substitution of experience of the caliber and scope indicated above for the required undergraduate college education on the basis one year of qualifying experience is equivalent to one year of undergraduate education;
OR
substitution of twenty-four hours of graduate level course work in a special program curriculum such as Rehabilitation, Law, Education, Engineering, or Public or Business Administration for each year of the required experience to a maximum substitution of two years.

For additional information, please click on this link to view the job description.